September 5 - Jury Rights Day

nPosted on September 5, 2017

Key points

One of the fundamental rights many people in the world now enjoy – even take for granted – is a fair trial by jury. But actually, many times and places fair trials with juries of one’s peers were not available, so people really should treasure that right.

nAnd people really should treasure serving on a jury. But most adults I’ve talked to dread “jury duty” and actively try to “get off” – that is, avoid serving on a trial.

nThat’s a shame, because justice is best served if caring, informed citizens take seriously their duty to occasionally serve on juries.

nThe Fully Informed Jury Association, FIJA, says that people’s best protection from corrupt police and politicians is a fully informed jury. They say that the best defense from a criminal government is a fully informed jury. And they started this special day, Jury Rights Day, in order to spread their message to all.

nHere are some important parts of FIJA’s message:

n* Jurors have the authority to stand up to unjust laws by refusing to
enforce them.

* Jurors should not be asked to “check their consciences at the courthouse door.” In other words, they should remain mindful that – even if the prosecutor has proved his or her case “beyond a reasonable doubt” – if the law isn’t fair, they should vote to acquit (“not guilty”) rather than convict (“guilty”).

n* Jurors cannot be punished for their verdicts.

n* Juror veto – also known as jury nullification – is voting “not guilty” when the law itself is unjust or morally wrong. Juror veto is a peaceful way of protecting human rights against would-be tyrants.